East Dundee residents ferried to safety as water begins to rise

East Dundee firefighters said they ferried seven people out of their homes Monday when ice jams cause the Fox River to flood their yards in unincorporated Dundee Township.

Around 10:30 a.m., firefighters responded to a call from a home in the Richardson subdivision, normally the first area to flood during high water. Firefighters used an aluminum rescue boat to push the residents to safety.

The responders then went door to door in the area to see if people wanted help getting out of their homes, which were surrounded by freezing water.

Firefighters were able to get some of the residents to their cars parked down the street. Although the American Red Cross was on hand, all of the people who requested help were able to find a place to stay.

After dealing with freezing water that closed nearby Elgin Avenue for a few hours, firefighters left the area around 3 p.m.

Officials who monitor the river said they have seen issues with ice jams from Dundee Township down to St. Charles but said overall river levels were falling - good news for residents of the Richardson subdivision.

"I think if it's coming down a bit they should be going back," acting East Dundee Fire Chief Steve Schmitendorf said.